Recurrence of Hodgkin's disease after 10 years: observation of 5 cases

Five patients whose Hodgkin's disease recurred 10 years or more after the achievement of complete remission are reported. Four out of 5 patients had shown an advanced stage at the onset of disease and therefore had received combination chemotherapy (ABVD or MOPP-like) as primary treatment. Involved-field irradiation was delivered as consolidation therapy in 1 patient only. All pathologically proven relapses occurred in a previously affected area and the histologic subtype differed from the primary subtype. The time interval between the achievement of the first complete remission and the relapse was 120, 170 and 190 months in 3, 1, and 1 patient, respectively. All 5 patients are alive in second complete remission. This paper emphasizes the risk of late relapse even after a prolonged disease-free interval for patients with Hodgkin's disease. Close follow-up is therefore recommended also in this clinical setting.